Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-05-07
TRINITY EPISCOPAL ANNIVERSARY.

The Rector of Trinity Episcopal
Church last Sunday celebrated the
Eighth Anniversary of his Rector
ship by preaching sermon on the
text, Hitherto hath the Lord helped
u.s." l Sam'l, VII, II.
After stating the history of the cir
cumstances under which the text was
uttered, he said, it was not simply to
denote the satisfaction of finished
work, but was also to serve as an in
centive to greater faith and works in
the future. So, he strongly urged,
would he apply it to-day. And then
as wonderful fulfillment of Gods
promises, he gave summary of the
written records of the Parish, which
we herewith present:
When I entered upon the duties of
Rector, the first Sunday in May, 1879,
| found 50 families and parts of fami-
lies in connection with the Church.
That number has steadily grown until
there are now 127 families into which
/ have been invited with the privilege
of going as Pastor. This increase of
60 means very much, for be it re-
membered, that where there is one
faithful communicate in a family,
the lessons of the Church are taught
as from living Epistles. We have in-
stances where several members of
family have declared for Christ and
this Church through the influence of
one Cody member.
From these homes of which we have
just spoken, there have been presented
IA candidates for the Sacrament of
Holy Baptism, and so IA times has
this Church received adults and in
fants into her fold, signing them with
the sign of the Cross, sin token that
they shall not be ashamed to confess
the faith of Christ crucified and to
fight manfully under His banner
against sin, the world and the devil,
and to continue Christ's faithful sold
iers and servants unto their lifes end"
At the various visitations of the
Bishop, 40 candidates have received
the Apostolic Rite of Confirmation or
the laying on of hands.
Eight years ago the COMMUNICATE
list numbered SO. That under the
blessing of God has continued to grow,
147 more names have been added, so
that the present number is $50. But
we must deduct from this IS who
have been lost by death or removal,
and we have the actual number Of 165
who have name to live and ought to
be living and working for Christ.
81 times have the solemn VOWS of
Matrimony been taken "for better,
for worse" according to the form of
solemnization used by this Church.
As times have been called upon to
enter your houses of mourning and
commit your loved ones to the earth;
ashes to ashes, dust to dust, to await
the resurrection of the dead. The
greatest sorrow that fills my heart in
connection with this sad subject is
that nine Of the adults were called
away without having given any evil
dence of hope of glorious immortali-
ty. Yet with only one exception all
were baptized members of the Holy
Catholic Church. God grant that
those of us who are to follow may be
faithful to our calling here, that we
may reap the reward of eternal life
hereafter.
/ have next to say that the records
show the number of public services
in this Parish Ito have been for eight
years. on Sundays 1885, and on other
days 1913, or total of 1858. This
makes an average of about 295 each
year.
Now we come to the financial statis-
tics. This Parish has contributed to
the cause of Missions, Home and
Foreign, as follows: